Automatic gravity ignition cut-out for tractors



C. CHISMAN. 7 AUTOMATIC GRAVITY IGNITION CUT-OUT "FOR TRACTORS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10, I920.

1,414,932, Patented May 2, 1922.

8 n 02 to z UNITED CHARLES CHISMAN, 0F BRIGGS, IDAHO.

AUTOMATIC GRAVITY IGNITION CUT-OUT FOR TRAG'I'ORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1922.

Application filed June 10, 1920. Serial No. 388,040.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, CHARLES Q i snAN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Driggs, in the county-of Teton and State of Idaho, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic GravltyIgmtion Cut-Outs for Tractors; and I do declare the following to beefull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to an improved automatic gravity ignition cut-outfor use on tractors, although, it is not restricted to this particularuse.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a device of theabove mentioned type which will automatically ground the ignitioncircuit in case the tractor bucks, thus preventing the tractor fromoverturnlng as it oftentimes does.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this classwhich includes a gravity operated ignition controlling switch which isassociated with a runway in which is a switch operating member, thelatter being moved along the runway and into efiective position when therunway assumes an abnormal inclined position.

A further object of the invention is to provide novel mounting means fora device of this class, which means is such that it will permit therunway to be moved to various inclined positions, which condition willpermit the switch operating member to move more or less readily to itseffective position according to the inclination .of the runway.

A still further object of the invention is to generally improve upon andsimplify the construction of devices of this class and to provide onewhich is made up of extremely few and inexpensive parts which insureeffective operation at all times.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during.the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings formin numerals are employed to designatelike parts throughout the same: i

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a deviceconstructed in accordance with my invention, the same being shown inposition for use,

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. 1

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 indicates a part ofa tractor or other machine upon which the device is installed, and thenumeral 2 indicates the engine thereof, which as usual, is provided witha spark plug 3. The latter is supplied with current through the wire 4in the usual way. It is my intention to install my improved device onany part of the tractor.

The device comprises a closed tube 5, at one end of which is a suitableelectric switch 6, actuated by means of a gravity controlled element 7here shown in the form of a sphere. As shown, the tube 5 is mounted onthe support 1 in an inclined position, which arrangement causes theswitch actuating member 7 to normally remain in an ineffective position,in which position it is shown.

Novel means is employed for connecting the tube to the tractor. llhismeans comprises a pair of hinges 8 and 9, the latter of which includes arelatively long slotted arm 10, which is adapted to be secured to thetube 5. Means for securing the hinge to the tube is here shown in theform of a headed bolt 11, which extends through the slot in the part 10and is screw-threaded into the tube. By this arrangement, it will beseen that the degree of inclination of the tube may be varied so as tocause the switch controlling member 7 to move more or less readily toeffective position, according to the inclination of the tube or runway.Connected to the binding post of the switch 6 is a wire 12, whichpermits the current to pass therethrough and become grounded in case thetractor bucks and causes the member 5 to assume an abnormal inclinedposition.

The operation of the device is as follows: Under ordinary circumstances,when the engine is running under normal conditions, current is suppliedto the engine cylinders g bv means of the wire 4: which connects with apart of the specification and lnwhich like the spark plug 3. On theother hand, in case the tractor bucks, as it oftentimes does, the runwayor, cylinder 5 will assume an abnormal inclined position, consequently,the member 7 will move toward the connected end of the cylinder andactuate the switch 6. Now, the current passing through the wire 4,instead of taking the above outlined course, will pass through the wire12 and become rounded, thus causing a short circuit an preventingfurther operation of the engine until the tractor assumes its normalposition. When the tractor does take its normal position, the switchactuating member will move along the runway in a reverse position to itsineffective position. Circumstances will then be normal, and the currentwill follow the coursefirst outlined. By unloosening the bolt 11, theinclination of the tube may be changed to cause the member 7 to bemoreor less sensitive. In other word's, if the inclination of the tubeis greater than that illustrated it will be seen that the front end ofthe tractor will be permitted to move up off of the ground aconsiderable distance before the device is effective and vice versa.This is a feature to be considered in View, of the fact, that it is notalways desired to have the device become feifective under allcircumstances, it would not be desirable to have the device becomeeffective if the tractor were merely ascending a steep incline, as itmight do if the inclination of the tube Were not great enough.

Fronm the foregoing it will be apparent that every time the tractorbucks, that'is,

every time the front end thereof moves upwardly to an abnormal degree mydevice will become effective and prevent further operation of the engineand at the same time prevent the tractor from overturning as it would doif no device of this character were employed. Furthermore, if thevehicle should. overturn as it may possibly do, it will be seen that mydevicewill cause a short circuit and prevent further operation of theengine. This is an important feature because of the fact that it willprevent explosion from taking place and injuring the driver who might bevpinned beneath the overturned machine.

While I have shown and described the switch actuating member as being inthe form of a ball I do not desire to limit myself to this particularconstruction.

It may be well to again call attention to the fact that the device isapplicable to any suitable part of the tractor, and the electric wirewhich it includes may be attached either to one of the spark plugs orthe magneto point as may be desired.

A careful consideration of the foregoing description taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings will be foundsufficient toenable person skilled in the art to which this invention appertains toobtain a clear understanding of the same, therefore further descriptionis deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herein shown anddescribed is to be taken as a preferred form of the same, and thatvarious minor changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts maybe resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a gravity operated switch including an inclinedrunway and a switch operating Weight movable along said runway; of hingemeans for mounting said runway on a support, and means for holding saidrunway in the numerous inclined positions permittedby said hinge.

2. An automatic ignition cut-out for motor vehicles comprising a tube,closed at its opposite ends, switch means at one end of the tube foraffecting the ignition circuit, a gravity controlled switch actuatingweight movable in the tube, normally in ineffective position, a verticalsupport, a hinge connected to the latter and underface of the adjacentend of the tube, serving to pivotally mount the tube on the support, asecond hinge including a short leaf secured to the support andacomparatively long slotted leaf, and a binding screw passing throughthe slot in said leaf and into the tube for permitting the tube to bemoved to and held in various angular positions.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set In hand.

J CHARLES CHISMAN.

